CONSTAB 
 BALLADS 
 
 CLAUDE 
 icKAY 
 

 n 
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 University of California Berkeley 
 
CON STAB BALLADS 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
 SONGS OF JAMAICA. With portrait and music 
 to six of the Songs. 
 
 To be had in Jamaica from Aston Gardner & Co. , Harbour 
 Street, Kingston (price Is. 6d. net, postage 2d.) ; and in 
 London from the Jamaica Agency, Gamage Building, Holborn, 
 E.G. (price 2s. net, postage 2d.). 
 
CONSTAB BALLADS 
 
 BY 
 
 CLAUDE McKAY 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 WATTS & CO., 
 
 17 JOHNSON'S COURT, FLEET STREET, E.G. 
 1912 
 
OGDEN LIBRARY 
 
C 
 
 TO 
 LIEUT. -COL. A. E. KERSHAW, 
 
 INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF CONSTABULARY, 
 AND TO 
 
 INSPECTOR W. E. CLARK, 
 
 UNDER WHOM THE AUTHOR HAD 
 THE HONOUR OF SERVING, 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS 
 RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. 
 
 [All rights reserved.] 
 
PKEFACE 
 
 LET me confess it at once. I had not in me the stuff that 
 goes to the making of a good constable ; for I am so con- 
 stituted that imagination outruns discretion, and it is my 
 misfortune to have a most improper sympathy with wrong- 
 doers. I therefore never " made cases," but turning, like 
 Nelson, a blind eye to what it was my manifest duty to see, 
 tried to make peace, which seemed to me better. 
 
 Moreover, I am, by temperament, unadaptive ; by which 
 I mean that it is not in me to conform cheerfully to uncon- 
 genial usages. We blacks are all somewhat impatient of 
 discipline, and to the natural impatience of my race there 
 was added, in my particular case, a peculiar sensitiveness 
 which made certain forms of discipline irksome, and a 
 fierce hatred of injustice. Not that I ever openly rebelled ; 
 but the rebellion was in my heart, and it was fomented by 
 the inevitable rubs of daily life trifles to most of my 
 comrades, but to me calamities and tragedies. To relieve 
 my feelings, I wrote poems, and into them I poured my 
 heart in its various moods. This volume consists of a 
 selection from these poems. 
 
 The life was, as it happened, unsuited to me, and I to 
 
 7 
 
8 PREFACE 
 
 it ; but I do not regret my experiences. If I had enemies 
 whom I hated, I also had close friends whom I loved. 
 
 One word in conclusion. As constituted by the autho- 
 rities the Force is admirable, and it only remains for the 
 men themselves, and especially the sub-officers, to make it 
 what it should be, a harmonious band of brothers. 
 
 C. McK. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 DE ROUTE MARCH 11 
 
 FLAT-FOOT DRILL * " 13 
 
 BENNIE'S DEPARTURE - 15 
 
 CONSOLATION 23 
 
 FIRE PRACTICE 26 
 
 SECOND-CLASS CONSTABLE ALSTON - 28 
 
 LAST WORDS OF THE DYING RECRUIT 30 
 
 BOUND FE DUTY - 33 
 
 BUMMING - . 34 
 
 DE DOG-DRIVER'S FRIEN' 37 
 
 TO INSPECTOR W. E. CLARK - 39 
 
 PAPINE CORNER 40 
 
 DISILLUSIONED 43 
 
 COTCH DONKEY 46 
 
 ME WHOPPIN' BIG- TREE BOY . - 48 
 
 A RECRUIT ON THE CORPY - 50 
 
 PAY-DAY - 52 
 
 THE APPLE-WOMAN'S COMPLAINT 57 
 
 KNUTSFORD PARK RACES 59 
 
 THE HEART OF A CONSTAB - 62 
 
 FE ME SAL 64 
 
 THE BOBBY TO THE SNEERING LADY - 66 
 
 9 
 
10 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE MALINGERER - 69 
 
 A LABOURER'S LIFE GIVE ME 71 
 
 FREE ! - 73 
 
 COMRADES FOUR - 74 
 
 TO W. G. G. 76 
 
 SUKEE RIVER 78 
 
 GLOSSARY - - - - 81 
 
DE EOUTE MAECH 
 
 IN de fus' squad an' de front rank, 
 'Side me dear Will on de right flank, 
 From de drill-groun' at the old camp 
 We went marchin' on a long tramp. 
 
 In de forefront was de gay band, 
 
 An' de music it was ring grand ; 
 
 how jolly were we boys, oh, 
 
 As we marched 'long t'rough St. Jago ! 
 
 As we tramped on out de dull town, 
 Keepin' time so 1 to de drum's soun', 
 All de folkses as dey ran out, 
 Started dancin' with a glad shout. 
 
 We went swingin' do'n de steep hill, 
 Me so happy by my dear Will, 
 Wid our carbines slung about we, 
 An' our glad hearts like de air free. 
 
 We drank a draught from a pure brook 
 Dat came windin' roun' a lee nook ; 
 Then homeward turned from de cool spring, 
 Wid our good S. M. commanding. 
 
 1 pointing to the feet. 
 11 
 
12 DE KOUTE MAECH 
 
 To de music wid a good will 
 
 We went tramp-trampin' up de hill, 
 
 An' back to camp strode marchin' t'rough 
 
 De sad ruins of St. Jago. 
 
FLAT-FOOT DEILL 
 
 Fus' beginnin', flat-foot drill, 
 Larnin' how fe mek right tu'n : 
 
 " 'Tention ! keep you' ban's dem still, 
 
 Can't you tek in dat a li'l ? 
 Hearin' all, but larnin' none. 
 
 " But seems unno all do'n-ca', 
 
 Won't mek up you' min' fe larn ; 
 Drill-instructor boun' fe swea', 
 Dealin' wid you' class all day, 
 Neber see such from A barn. 
 
 " Eight tu'n, you damn' bungo brut' ! 
 
 Do it so, you mountain man ; 
 Car' behin' de bluff lef foot, 
 Seems i' frighten fe de boot ! 
 
 Why you won't keep do'n you' han' ? 
 
 " Shet you' mout' ! A wan' no chat ! 
 
 Fabour say you pick up nong, 1 
 Sence you nyamin' Depot fat 
 An' 'top sleep 'pon so-so mat, 
 
 But A mean fe pull you' tongue. 2 
 
 i It seems you are getting " beany " now. 
 8 so that you can't talk. 
 18 
 
14 FLAT-FOOT DEILL 
 
 " Wonder when unno wi' fit 
 Fe move up in-a fus' squad, 
 
 Use carbine an' bayonet ! 
 
 Wait dough, unno wi' larn yet, 
 Me wi' drill you ti' you mad." 
 
BENNIE'S DEPASTURE 
 
 ALL dat week was cold an' dreary, 
 
 An' I worked wid heavy heart ; 
 All my limbs were weak an' weary, 
 
 When I knew that we would part ; 
 An' I thought of our first meeting 
 
 On dat pleasant day o' June, 
 Of his kind an' modest greeting 
 
 When we met dat afternoon ; 
 
 Of de caprice o' de weader, 
 
 How de harsh rain fell dat day, 
 How we kissed de book togeder, 
 
 An' our hearts were light an' gay ; 
 How we started homewards drivin', 
 
 Last civilian drive in train ; 
 How we half-feared de arrivin', 
 
 Knowin' we were not free again ; 
 
 How we feared do'n to de layin' 
 
 By of our loved old-time dress, 
 An' to each udder kept sayin' 
 
 All might be unhappiness ; 
 How our lives be'n full o' gladness, 
 
 Drillin' wid hearts light an' free ; 
 How for days all would be sadness 
 
 When we quarrelled foolishly. 
 16 
 
16 BENNIE'S DEPASTURE 
 
 An' de sad, glad recollection 
 
 Brought a strange thrill to my soul, 
 'Memberin' how his affection 
 
 Gave joy in a barren wul' : 
 As I thought then, my mind goin' 
 
 Back to mem'ries, oh ! so dear, 
 As I felt de burden growin', 
 
 Jes' so shall I write it here. 
 
 We were once more on de drill-ground, 
 
 Me so happy by his side, 
 One in passion, one in will, bound 
 
 By a boundless love an' wide : 
 Daily you would see us drinkin' 
 
 Our tea by de mess-room door, 
 Every passin' moment linkin' 
 
 Us togeder more an' more. f 
 
 After little lazy leanin', 
 
 Sittin' on de window-sill, 
 Me would start our carbine-cleanin' 
 
 For de eight o'clock big drill : 
 To' me he be'n always ready, 
 
 An' as smart as smart could be ; 
 He was always quick, yet steady, 
 
 Not of wav'rin' min' like me. 
 
 When de time was awful dull in 
 De ole borin' Depot-school, 
 
 An' me face was changed an' sullen, 
 An' I kicked against de rule, 
 
 He would speak to me so sweetly, 
 Tellin' me to bear my fate, 
 
BENNIE'S DEPARTURE 17 
 
 An' his lovin' words completely 
 Helped me to forget de hate. 
 
 An' my heart would start a-pinin' 
 
 Ef, when one o'clock came roun', 
 He was not beside me dinin', 
 
 But be'n at some duty boun' : 
 Not a t'ing could sweet me eatin', 
 
 Wid my Bennie 'way from me ; 
 Strangely would my heart be beatin' 
 
 Tell I knew dat he was free. 
 
 When at. last he came to table, 
 
 Neider one could ever bate 
 Tell in some way we were able 
 
 To eke out each udder plate : 
 All me t'oughts were of my frennie 
 
 Then an' in de after days ; 
 Ne'er can I forget my Bennie 
 
 Wid him nice an' pleasant ways. 
 
 In de evenin' we went walkin', 
 
 An' de sweet sound of his voice, 
 As we laughed or kept a-talkin', 
 
 Made my lovin' heart rejoice : 
 Full of happiness we strolled on, 
 
 In de closin' evenin' light, 
 Where de stately Cobre 1 rolled on 
 
 Gurglin', murm'rin' in de night; 
 
 Where de rushin' canal waters 
 
 Splashed t'rough fields of manchinic, 
 
 1 the river at Spanish Town. 
 
18 BENNIE'S DEPABTUEE 
 
 Wid deir younger tender daughters 
 Grow'n' togeder, lush an' t'ick, 
 
 Bound' de mudder tall an' slimber 
 Wid her scalloped leaves o' blue, 
 
 In de evenin' light a-limber, 
 Or a-tossin' to an' fro. 
 
 Back to barracks slowly strollin', 1 
 
 Leavin' de enticin' soun' 
 0' de Cobre proudly rollin' 
 
 T'rough de old deserted town ; 
 Pas' de level well-kept meadows 
 
 0' de spacious prison-land, 
 Where de twilight's fallin' shadows 
 
 Scattered at de moon's command. 
 
 So we passed 'long, half unwillin', 
 
 T'rough de yawnin' barrack-gate, 
 Our poo' hearts wid disdain nllin' 
 
 0' de life we'd larnt to hate ; 
 Visions of a turgid ocean 
 
 Of our comrades' noise an' woes, 
 An' a ne'er-ceasin' commotion 
 
 Sorrowfully 'fo' us rose. 
 
 We mixed in de tumult, waitin' 
 Fe de moment o' release, 
 
 De disorder never 'batin', 
 Never 'batin' in de leas' ; 
 
 Wid de anger in us growin', 
 
 We grew vexed from black to blue, 
 
 1 we slowly strolled. 
 
BENNIE'S DEPARTURE 19 
 
 All de hot blood t'rough us flowin', 
 As we hungered for tattoo. 
 
 While some o' de men were strong in 
 
 Rum o' Wray an' Nephew fame, 
 We sat do'n wid ceaseless longin' 
 
 Till at last de tattoo came : 
 Jes' then we were no more snappy, 
 
 But be'n even in fe fun ; 
 Once again we felt quite happy 
 
 After de roll-call was done. 
 
 Claspin' of our hands togeder, 
 
 Each to each we told good-night, 
 Dreamed soon o' life's broken ledder 
 
 An' de wul's perplexin' fight, 
 Of de many souls a-weepin' 
 
 Burdened do'n wid care an' strife, 
 While we sweetly lay a-sleepin', 
 
 Yet would grumble 'bout our life. 
 
 Once his cot was next beside me, 
 
 But dere came misfortune's day 
 When de pleasure was denied me, 
 
 For de sergeant moved him 'way : 
 I played not fe mind de movin' 
 
 Though me heart wid grief be'n full ; 
 'Twas but one kin' o' de provin' 
 
 0' de ways o' dis ya wul'. 1 
 
 1 The reference is to "Whe' fe do?" one of the author's poems 
 in Songs of Jamaica. 
 
20 BENNIE'S DEPAETUEE 
 
 To' we tu'n good, came de warnin' 
 
 0' de rousin' bugle-soun', 
 An' you'd see us soon a marnin' 
 
 To de bat'-house hurryin' down, 
 Leavin' udders yawnin', fumblin', 
 
 Wid deir limbs all stiff an' ole, 
 Or 'pon stretchin' out an' grumblin', 
 
 Say'n' de water be'n too col'. 
 
 In a jiffy we were washin', 
 
 Jeerin' dem, de lazy type, 
 All about us water dashin' 
 
 Out o' de ole-fashion' pipe : 
 In a lee while we were endin', 
 
 Dere was not much time to kill, 
 Arms an' bay'nets wanted tendin' 
 
 To' de soon-a-marnin' drill. 
 
 So we spent five months togeder, 
 
 He was ever staunch an' true 
 In sunshine or rainy weader, 
 
 No mind what wrong I would do : 
 But dere came de sad heart-rendin' 
 
 News dat he must part from me, 
 An' I nursed my sorrow, bendin' 
 
 To de grim necessity. 
 
 All dat week was cold an' dreary, 
 An' I worked wid heavy heart ; 
 
 All my limbs were weak an' weary 
 When I knew dat we would part ; 
 
 All de fond hopes, all de gladness 
 Drooped an' faded from our sight, 
 
BENNIE'S DEPAETUEE 21 
 
 An' an overwhelmin' sadness 
 Came do'n on de partin' night. 
 
 In de dim light I lay thinkin' 
 
 How dat sad night was our last, 
 My lone spirit weakly sinkin' 
 
 'Neat' de mem'ries o' de past : 
 As I thought in deepest sorrow, 
 
 He came, sat do'n by my side, 
 Speakin' o' de dreaded morrow 
 
 An' de flow o' life's dark tide. 
 
 Gently fell the moonbeams, kissin' 
 
 'Way de hot tears streamin' free, 
 While de wind outside went hissin' 
 
 An' a-moanin' for poor me : 
 Then he rose, but after bended, 
 
 Biddin' me a last good-bye ; 
 To his cot his steps he wended, 
 
 An' I heard a deep-drawn sigh. 
 
 'Twas de same decisive warnin' 
 
 Wakin' us as in de past, 
 An' we both washed soon a marnin' 
 
 'Neat' de ole pipe fe de last ; 
 We be'n filled wid hollow laughter, 
 
 Rather tryin' to take heart, 
 But de grief returned when after 
 
 Came de moment fe depart. 
 
 Hands gripped tight, but not a tear fell 
 As I looked into his face, 
 
22 BENNIE'S DEPAETUEE 
 
 Said de final word o' farewell, 
 An' returned back to my place : 
 
 At my desk I sat me dry-eyed, 
 Sometimes gave a low-do'n moan, 
 
 An' at moments came a sigh sighed 
 For my Bennie dat was gone. 
 
 Gone he, de little sunshine o' my life, 
 
 Leavin' me 'lone to de Dep6t's black strife, 
 
 Dear little comrade o' lecture an' drill, 
 
 Loved comrade, like me of true stubborn will : 
 
 Oft, in de light o' de fast sinkin' sun, 
 
 We'd frolic togeder aroun' de big gun ; 
 
 Oft would he laughingly run after me, 
 
 Chasin' me over de wide Depot lea ; 
 
 Oft would he teach me de folly o' pride 
 
 When, me half-vexed, he would sit by my side ; 
 
 Now all is blackness t'rough night an' t'rough day, 
 
 For my heart's weary now Bennie's away. 
 
CONSOLATION 
 
 I TOOK my marnin' bat' alone, 
 An' wept for Bennie dat was gone ; 
 An' after, sittin', weepin' long, 
 Some one came askin' wha' be'n wrong : 
 But only chokin' sobs he heard, 
 My mout' could never speak a word. 
 An' so for long days all was grief, 
 An' never could I get relief ; 
 My heart be'n full of emptiness, 
 With naught to love an' naught to bless, 
 
 I 'member de familiar scene : 
 I sat out on de Depot green, 
 Restin' agains' de big great gun : 
 De long rays o' de settin' sun 
 Were thrown upon the sombre wall ; 
 I heard de rousin' bugle-call 
 In chorus 1 soundin' o' retreat ; 
 A ray o' light shone on my seat, 
 A soft dull shade of changin' gold, 
 So pleasant, lovely to behold : 
 A moment, an' I was alone, 
 De wanin' evenin' sun was gone. 
 
 1 Several bugles together. 
 
24 CONSOLATION 
 
 I sat do'n still ; de evenin' light 
 Passed on, an' it fell night, dark night. 
 'Twas autumn : feelin' rather chill, 
 I rose, led by my aimless will, 
 An' went up to the second floor, 
 Sat on a bench agains' de door. 
 A comrade came an' sat by me, 
 Restin' a hand upon my knee ; 
 De lantern old was burnin' dim, 
 But bright 'nough for me to see him : 
 One searchin' look into his face, 
 I gave him in my heart a place. 
 
 I never knew a nicer mind, 
 He was so pleasant an' so kind ; 
 An' oh ! the sweetness of his voice 
 That made my lonely heart rejoice. 
 It all comes back so vividly, 
 The comfort that he brought to me ; 
 The ray of hope, the pure pure joy 
 He gave a poor forsaken boy ; 
 In walk or talk his tender care, 
 His deep concern for my welfare. 
 His comin' filled the larger part 
 Of de great void made in my heart 
 When on dat cruel awful day 
 My faithful Bennie went away. 
 
 'Tis not de way o' dis ya wul' 
 Dat any miserable soul 
 Should know a little lastin' peace, 
 Should taste endurin' happiness. 
 
CONSOLATION 25 
 
 De harmless tabby o' de house 
 Plays kindly wid de frightened mouse, 
 Till, when it nearly loses dread, 
 Good Lard ! de little thing is dead. 
 So wid de man, toy of a Will 
 E'er playin' with him to its fill, 
 To-day alive, to-morrow slain, 
 Thus all our pleasure ends in pain. 
 
 Where'er I roam, whate'er the clime, 
 I'll never know a happier time ; 
 I seemed as happy as could be, 
 When everything was torn from me. 
 De fateful day I 'member still, 
 De final breakin' o' my will, 
 Again de sayin' o' good-bye, 
 My poor heart's silent wailin' cry ; 
 My life, my soul, my all be'n gone, 
 And ever since I am alone. 
 
FIRE PEACTICE 
 
 PAM-PA-PAM, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, 
 
 Hea' de fire-bugle blow ! 
 Pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, 
 
 Depot boys, tu'n do'n below ! 
 
 Kunnin' do'n out o' de big barrack-room, 
 Haulin' de two engine out o' de shed ; 
 
 Formin' up into a long double line, 
 Wait tell de fus' wud o' command is said, 
 
 Soon as we hea' it we start t'rough de gate, 
 Wid buckets, ledder, an' engine an' key : 
 
 Joyously happy, with right cheery will 
 Tramp we away from de big Depot lea. 
 
 Whole line in twos we go marchin' along, 
 List'nin' de tramp-trampin' tune of our feet, 
 
 Side winks a-givin' our gals as we pass 
 Merrily, nimbly along White Church Street. 
 
 At de shrill soun' o' de whistle we halt, 
 An' when de engine an' all is fixed square, 
 
 We start a-pumpin' wid might an' wid main, 
 
 Sendin' clear water chock up in de air. 
 
 26 
 
FIEE PEACTICE 27 
 
 Pumpin' an' pumpin' an' pumpin' away, 
 Pumpin' in earnest, yet pumpin' wid fun, 
 
 Once more again by de whistle we stop, 
 An' den de day's fire-practice is done. 
 
 Pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, 
 
 Hea' de fire-bugle blow ! 
 Pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, pam-pa-pam, 
 
 Depot boys, tu'n do'n below ! 
 
 NOTE. The first and last stanzas go to the following tune in F, 
 two-four time : 1st bar ; crotchet rest, quaver rest, 2 semiquavers 
 C third space. 2nd bar ; quaver C, 2 semiquavers A (the 3rd below), 
 2 semiquavers F (3rd below again). 3rd bar; crotchet F, quaver 
 rest, 2 semiquavers C (middle C). 4th bar ; 2 semiquavers F, 
 2 semiquavers middle C, crotchet F. 5th bar ; same as 1st ; 6th, 
 same as 2nd ; 7th, same as 3rd. 8th bar ; dotted quaver F, semi- 
 quaver F, dotted quaver middle C, semiquaver middle C. 9th bar ; 
 minim F. 
 
SECOND-CLASS CONSTABLE ALSTON 
 
 I WATCHED him as his cheek grew pale, 
 He that once was strong and hale ; 
 The red had faded all away, 
 And left it ashen, dull and gray. 
 
 One Monday night he came to me, 
 Kested his head upon my knee : 
 " Mac, me feel so sick," he said, 
 " I t'ink me poor boy soon wi' dead." 
 
 I did my best to calm his fears, 
 He opened up his breast in tears ; 
 I'll ne'er forget the sight I saw, 
 His body strewn with bumps all raw. 
 
 That night we listened to his moans, 
 The hot fever was in his bones ; 
 He tossed and tossed about until, 
 All his strength spent, he lay down still. 
 
 Many a weary weary day 
 In the hospital he lay, 
 Till one morn torture turned to peace, 
 For death had brought him his release. 
 28 
 
SECOND-CLASS CONSTABLE ALSTON 29 
 
 The funeral, oh it was grand ! 
 We honoured him with arms and band ; 
 And not a man but turned away 
 Wet- eyed from where his comrade lay. 
 
LAST WORDS OF THE DYING RECEUIT 
 
 WHERE'S you' tender ban', mumma, 
 Dat would fingle up me jaw 
 When de fever burned so deep, 
 An' A couldn' get no sleep ? 
 
 Where's de voice me love' to hear 
 Whisp'rin' sweetest words o' cheer? 
 Voice dat taught me A B C 
 As me leaned 'pon mumma's knee. 
 
 Look de 'panish-needle grass 
 Growin' by de gully pass ! 
 Is dat fe me ducky hen 
 Cacklin' roun'-a rabbit pen? 
 
 Hea' de John-t'whits in-a glee 
 Singin' in de mammee tree ! 
 Listen, comin' up de dale 
 Chirpin's o' de nightingale ! 
 
 All de chune dem die away : 
 Do you see de shinin' ray 
 On da' tiny buttercup ? 
 'Tis de sun a-comin' up. 
 30 
 
LAST WOBDS OF THE DYING BECBUIT 31 
 
 Now's full time fe me to wake, 
 'Causen we ha' bread fe bake ; 
 Git up, Sam, you lazy wretch, 
 For de beas' dem fe go ketch : 
 
 Ef you 'low de sun fe grow, 1 
 Grass-lice wi' sure mek you know ; 
 S'arch up to de ole-groun' side, 
 For de jack wi' 'tan' deh hide. 
 
 Mumma, me wan' go a school, 
 Te-day we gwin' play torn-fool : 
 Quick ! Gi'e me my book an' slate, 
 For I doana want fe late. 
 
 Sister, wha' de doctor t'ink ? 
 Say mumma a lower sink ? 
 Lard ! ef she gwin' go lef we, 
 Wha' de use o' life fe me ? 
 
 Sister, sister, a no true, 
 Mumma caan' dis dead 'way so ; 
 Sister, sister, leave me 'lone, 
 Me won' believe dat she gone. 
 
 Ah ! no fe her own ban' now 
 Kestin' on me fevered brow ? 
 Mumma, lay me 'pon you' breas', 
 Mek me get a drop o' res'. 
 
 1 See glossary, under "Ef.' 
 
32 LAST WOEDS OF THE DYING EECBUIT 
 
 Mumma ! a whe' mumma deh ? 
 Mumma ! mumma gone away ? 
 Gone, oh gone is eberyt'ing, 
 But de funny fancies cling. 
 
 Aye, t'enk God, me mumma come ! 
 Ma, no lef me, tek me home ; 
 Tek me from de awful strife 
 Of dis miserable life. 
 
BOUND FE DUTY 
 
 TRAMP, tramp, tramp, we go a-trampin', 
 
 Policemen on duty boun' 
 From de Depot to de city, 
 
 For dere's racin'-time come roun'. 
 
 Wid our great cloaks buttoned round we, 
 Our best trampin' boots all strong, 
 
 Kit-bags, helmet-bags in each hand, 
 We go merrily along. 
 
 Tramp, tramp, tramp, we go a-trampin', 
 Stoutly marchin' t'rough de rain ; 
 
 Soon we'll all be tucked quite snugly 
 In a corner o' de train. 
 
 Our light hearts are filled wid gladness, 
 As we're sweetly whirled away 
 
 From de station to de city, 
 For it means some extra pay. 
 
 Passin' cane-fields all a-racin', 
 Lush bananas coated blue, 
 
 We're whirled onward to de city, 
 Where dere's work for us to do. 
 88 
 
BUMMING 
 
 OF all de people I don't like, 
 A chief one is de bummer ; . 
 
 He bums around from morn to night 
 Trough winter an' t'rough summer. 
 
 Ef we should go aroun' John's shop, 
 An' he ketch scent o' rum's up, 
 
 You'll soon see'm pokin' up him nose 
 Wid him bare-face an' comes-up. 
 
 Ef we are smokin' cigarette, 
 
 He wants a part of it too ; 
 An' ebery bluff you gi'e to him, 
 
 He's answer got to fit you. 
 
 Anedder thing I really hate 
 Is, when de touris' come in, 
 
 To see some people flockin' dem, 
 An' ebery one a-bummin'. 
 
 I think it is an ugly sight 
 
 To see a bummin' bobby ; 
 Yet plenty o' dem tek it for 
 
 A precious piece of hobby. 1 
 
 1 Many of them make it their favourite practice. 
 34 
 
BUMMING 35 
 
 I proud 'nuff o' me uniform 
 Not ever to be rummy ; 
 
 Much mo' fe lower do'n mese'f 
 An' mek my min' feel bummy. 
 
 If people like to see somet'ing, 
 
 It is a bobby quaffin' 
 A glass or two o' common rum, 
 
 Then drunk, dey start a-laughin'. 
 
 I tell you, all my comrades dear, 
 Dough your pay might be little, 
 
 Don't cringe an' fawn 'fore richer men, 
 Deir pelf's not wort' a tittle. 
 
 My pay is small, an' yet I live 
 An' feel proud as a lord too ; 
 
 Ef you'll be men you soon will find 
 How much it can reward you. 
 
 De honest toil is pure as gold, 
 An' he who wuks a penny 
 
 Can mek his life as much wort' while 
 As he who earns a guinea. 
 
 Our trouble is dat those above 
 Do oftentimes oppress ; 
 
 But we'll laugh at or pity dem, 
 Or hate dem mo' or less. 
 
36 BUMMING 
 
 So we mus' mek de best o' t'ings, 
 An' never be too rummish ; 
 
 'Twill help us many ways, an' 'top 
 Us all from bein' bummish. 
 
DE DOG-DEIVEK'S FBIEF 
 
 STAY your hasty hands, my comrades, 
 
 I must speak to you again ; 
 For you beat de dog 'dout mussy, 
 
 An' dey are we night-time frien'. 
 Treat dem kindly, treat dem kindly, 
 
 For dey are God's creatures too ; 
 You have no more claim, dear comrades, 
 
 On de earth dan what dey do. 
 
 'Cos you locked him up in barracks 
 T'rough some failin' point o' his, 
 
 You mus' beatin' him so badly 
 For de little carelessness ? 
 
 Treat dem kindly, etc. 
 
 When de hours are cold an' dreary, 
 An' I'm posted on me beat, 
 
 An' me tired heavy body 
 Weighs upon me weary feet ; 
 
 When I think of our oppressors 
 Wid mixed hatred an' don'-care, 
 
 An' de ugly miau of torn-puss 
 Rings out sharply on de air, 
 87 
 
38 DE DOG-DBIVER'S FRIEN' 
 
 Oftentimes dem come aroun' me 
 Wid dem free an' trusting soul, 
 
 Lying do'n or gambolling near me 
 Wid a tender sort o' gro'l : 
 
 An' I snap my fingers at them, 
 While dey wag dem tail at me ; 
 
 Can you wonder dat I love dem, 
 Dem, me night-time company ? 
 
 Treat dem kindly, etc. 
 
 Sometimes dey're a bit too noisy 
 Wid deir long leave-taking bark; 1 
 
 But I tell you what, it cheers me 
 When de nights are extra dark. 
 
 So, dear comrades, don't ill-treat him, 
 You won't mek me talk in vain ; 
 
 'Member, when de hours are dreary, 
 He's de poor dog-driver's frien'. 
 
 Treat dem kindly, etc. 
 
 1 This is a trick of the dogs when they want to leave their master's 
 yard. They set up a great barking about 11 p.m., as if they were 
 on the alert, and soon after they are all gone. 
 
TO INSPECTOE W. E. CLARK 
 
 (ON HIS RETURN) 
 
 WE welcome you, dear Sir, again ; 
 But oh ! de comin' brings us pain, 
 For though we greet you glad to-day, 
 Once more you're bound to go away : 
 We grieve now deeper than before 
 To know you'll be wid us no more. 
 
 We fought o' meetin' you in gladness ; 
 But no, our hearts are filled with sadness 
 To learn why we must part from you, 
 An officer so dear an' true : 
 Our prayer is dat de Fates will bless 
 You an' your kin wid health an' peace. 
 
 Farewell, dear Sir, farewell again ! 
 
 A farewell fraught wi' deepest pain : 
 
 De very ringin' o' de bell 
 
 Sounds like a wailin' of farewell ; 
 
 We feel it deeply, to de core, 
 
 To know you'll be wid us no more. 
 
 89 
 
PAPINE COKNEB 
 
 WHEN you want to meet a frien', 
 
 Bide up to Papine, 
 Where dere's people to no en', 
 
 Old, young, fat an' lean : 
 When you want nice gals fe court 
 
 An' to feel jus' booze', 
 Go'p to Papine as a sport 
 
 Dress' in ge'man clo'es. 
 
 When you want to be jus' broke, 
 
 Ride up wid your chum, 
 Buy de best cigars to smoke 
 
 An' Finzi old rum : 
 Stagger roun' de sort o' square 
 
 On to Fong Kin bar ; 
 Keep as much strengt' dat can bear 
 
 You do'n in de car. 
 
 When you want know Sunday bright, 
 
 Tek a run up deh 
 When 'bout eight o'clock at night 
 
 Things are extra gay : 
 Ef you want to see it cram', 
 
 Wait tell night is dark, 
 An' beneat' your breat' you'll damn 
 
 Coney Island Park. 
 40 
 
PAPINE COENEE 41 
 
 When you want see gals look fine, 
 
 You mus' go up dere, 
 An' you'll see them drinkin' wine 
 
 An' all sorts o' beer : 
 There you'll see them walkin' out, 
 
 Each wid a young man, 
 Watch them strollin' all about, 
 
 Flirtin' all dem can. 
 
 When you want hear coarsest jokes 
 
 Passin' rude an' vile, 
 Want to see de Kingston blokes, 
 
 Go up dere awhile : 
 When you want hear murderin' 
 
 On de piano, 
 An' all sorts o' drunken din, 
 
 Papine you mus' go. 
 
 Ef you want lost policeman, 
 
 Go dere Sunday night, 
 Where you'll see them, every one 
 
 Lookin' smart an' bright : 
 Policeman of every rank, 
 
 Rural ones an' all, 
 In de bar or on de bank, 
 
 Each one in them sail. 
 
 Policeman dat's in his beat, 
 
 Policeman widout, 
 Policeman wid him gold teet' 
 
 Shinin' in him mout' ; 
 
42 PAPINE COBNER 
 
 Policeman in uniform 
 Made of English blue, 
 
 P'liceman gettin' rather warm, 
 Sleuth policeman too. 
 
 Policeman on plain clo'es pass, 
 
 Also dismissed ones ; 
 See them standin' in a mass, 
 
 Talkin' 'bout them plans : 
 Policeman " struck off de strengt' 
 
 Physical unfit," 
 Hear them chattin' dere at lengt' 
 
 'Bout a diffran' kit. 
 
 When you want meet a surprise, 
 
 Tek de Papine track ; 
 Dere some things will meet you' eyes 
 
 Mek you tu'n you' back : 
 When you want to see mankind 
 
 Of "class "family 
 In a way degra' them mind, 
 
 Go 'p deh, you will see. 
 
 When you want a pleasant drive, 
 
 Tek Hope Gardens line ; 
 I can tell you, man alive, 
 
 It is jolly fine : 
 Ef you want to feel de fun, 
 
 You mus' only wait 
 Until when you're comin' do'n 
 
 An' de tram is late. 
 
DISILLUSIONED 1 
 
 CAN you leave me so, my Dan, 
 Can you leave you' little Fan 
 'Ter all o' me lub fe you ? 
 An' my heart is still true, true. 
 
 Can you leave me, leave me so, 
 Full me heart wid grief an' woe, 
 Leave me to a bitter fate, 
 When I'm in dis awful state ? 
 
 'Member you de days gone by 
 When for me you said you'd die ? 
 How you let me see you' heart, 
 Vowing we could never part ? 
 
 'Member you my foolish pride 
 When we be'n up mountain-side ? 
 How you go do'n 'pon you' knee, 
 Sayin' you'd be true to me ? 
 
 An' I followed you away 
 Do'n to dis ya dreary bay ; 
 Fool to lef me mudder's home, 
 When she said me shouldn' come ! 
 
 1 Sequel to " My Pretty Dan " in Songs of Jamaica, 
 43 
 
44 DISILLUSIONED 
 
 . Now, sake ob a to'n-bred miss, 
 You mus' treat me laka dis ! 
 Tramplin' me under you' feet, 
 Tu'nin' me out in de street. 
 
 Will she warm you when you're chill ? 
 Will you get of lub you' fill ? 
 Will she starve herse'f fe you, 
 As I always use' fe do ? 
 
 Will a to'n gal go bare-feet, 
 Jes' fe try mek two ends meet ? 
 Will she car' water an' wash, 
 Jes' fe help out you' lee cash ? 
 
 Is she sweet an' undefile' 
 As you took me, jes' a chil', 
 To' I knew about de wul', 
 Gave to you my pure pure soul ? 
 
 Will you leave me all forlorn 
 To' de lilly baby's born ? 
 Who wi' eber tek me in 
 Wid dis dreadful load o' sin ? 
 
 Foolish, foolish young gals who 
 T'ink a constab could be true ! 
 Foolish, foolish every one 
 Who will trus' a policeman ! 
 
DISILLUSIONED 45 
 
 Dem wi' ondly try fe rob 
 All de good you mighta hab ; 
 An' 'fo' you can count de cost, 
 You wi' find you'se'f lost, lost. 
 
 Will you leave me, heartless Dan, 
 For a risky to'n woman ? 
 When I'm burdened do'n wid woe, 
 Will you leave me, leave me so ? 
 
COTCH DONKEY 
 
 Ko how de jackass 
 Lay do'n in de road ; 
 
 An' him ondly car' 
 Little bit o' load. 
 
 Kue, jackass, git up ! 
 
 'Tan' up 'pon you' foot 
 Dis ya load no load, 
 
 You's a lazy brut'. 
 
 Me no know wha' mek 
 Pa won' swop you too ; 
 
 For dere's not a t'ing 
 Wut while you can do. 
 
 Ef you car' no load, 
 It is all de same ; 
 
 Hamper on or no, 
 'Tis de ushal game. 
 
 P61iceman a come 
 Fe go mek a row, 
 
 All because o' you 
 Wid you' wutless now. 
 46 
 
COTCH DONKEY 47 
 
 " See ya, Sah, no min', 
 
 Dis a fe me luck ; 
 De jackass is bad, 
 
 Him no wan' fe wuk. 
 
 "'Tekde hamper off?' 
 
 Him no hab no cut : 
 Me deh tell you say 
 
 De jackass no wut. 
 
 " Lard ! me Gahd o' me ! 
 
 Him got one lee 'cratch : 
 Dat is not'in', Sah, 
 
 For him always cotch. 
 
 Do, Sah, let me off, 
 
 Ef fe te-day one 1 ; 
 For a no de 'cratch 
 
 Cause him fe lay do'n." 
 
 Now because o' you 
 Dem gone bring me up ; 2 
 
 An' wha' hu't me mos', 
 You caan' wuk a tup. 
 
 Ef dem summons me, 
 
 Mek me pay few mac, 
 Dat caan' mek me 'top 
 
 Wuk you wid sore back. 
 
 1 Just this once. a They have gone to get out a summons. 
 
ME WHOPPIN' BIG-TREE BOY 
 
 I'M aweary weary standin', wid me heart chock-full o' 
 grief, 
 
 An' a great lump in me bosom, an' A canna' get 
 relief : 
 
 Walkin' up an' do'n de road, I see a whoppin' Syrian- 
 boy, 
 
 An' I grudge him, yes I grudge him for his heart so 
 full o' joy. 
 
 'Twas a hot, hot day o' brain-work, an' me heart was 
 
 sick an' sad, 
 As I staggered 'long de car-line, but de boy's cheek 
 
 made me glad : 
 Wid his han's dem set akimbo in a mannish sort o' 
 
 way, 
 Said he "Do wha' it you like, but A wi' wuk no mo' 
 
 te-day." 
 
 An' de Syrian grew astonished as he looked upon his 
 
 load, 
 Which de whoppin' big-tree boy had tumbled in de 
 
 middle road : 
 He was boun' fe Lawrence Tavern, business called 
 
 him dere to-night, 
 An' he begged his ole-time carrier jes' to help him 
 
 out his plight. 
 
 48 
 
ME WHOPPIN' BIG-TEEE BOY 49 
 
 " Nummo wuk at all fe me is my determination still ; 
 Me no care damn wha' you say, an' you can jes' do 
 
 wha' you will : 
 Me deh go right back to to'n, yah, underneat' me old 
 
 big-tree ; 
 All dem boys wid eboe-light dem, dem is waitin' deh 
 
 fe me. 
 
 " Now I'm free fe talk abouten all de people whe' you 
 
 rob, 
 How you sell wha' no wut gill self to black naygur for 
 
 a bob ; 
 But me eboe-light wi' sure talk, of dat you can have 
 
 no doubt, 
 Fe revenge de quantity o' poor poor people you play out. 
 
 " Jes' becausen say dem poo' so, an' t'rough poverty 
 
 dem mus' 
 Tek a couple o' t'ings from you dat you're trick 
 
 enough fe trus', 
 You robbin' dem so badly; 1 but A sorry fe you 
 
 dough, 
 How we boys beneat' de big-tree really mean fe mek 
 
 you know." 
 
 Then I roared, I roared with laughter, although 
 
 posted on my beat, 
 
 Till I half forgot de sore pain in me bosom an' my feet : 
 Ah ! I wish I knew a little, jes' a little of de joy 
 Dat Nature has bestowed on you, my whoppin' big- 
 tree boy. 
 
 1 This should be read almost as if it were a question. 
 
 D 
 
A BECKUIT ON THE COEPY 
 
 ME an' de corpy drink we rum, 
 An' corpy larn me how fe bum ; 
 Last night me gie 'm de last-last tup, 
 Yet now him come an' bring me up. 
 
 He'll carry me 'fo' officer, 
 An' rake up' t'ings fe charge me for ; 
 An' all because dese couple days 
 Me couldn' gie 'm de usual raise. 
 
 Last night, when it come to roll-call, 
 Dis corpy couldn' 'ten' at all : 
 We didn' mek de S.M. see 'm, 
 But only put things 'traight fe him. 
 
 An' we, like big fools, be'n deh fret 
 Ober de corpy drunk to deaf : 
 We all treat him so very kin', 
 Aldough him ha' such dutty min'. 
 
 We tek him drunken off de car, 
 We tek him drunken out de bar, 
 We wake him drunken 'pon him guard, 
 An' yet we neber claim reward. 
 50 
 
A EECEUIT ON THE COEPY 51 
 
 All bad contrary things me do, 
 Corpy see me an' let me go ; 
 But 'causen me no ha' a tup, 
 Fe not'in' 'tall him bring me up. 
 
PAY-DAY 
 
 DEKE'S a little anxious crowd 
 
 Jes' outside de barrack gate, 
 All a-t'inkin' deir own way 
 
 Dat de pay is kept back late : 
 Faces of all types an' shades, 
 
 Brown an' yaller, black an' gray, 
 Dey are waitin', waitin' dere, 
 
 For it's policeman pay-day. 
 
 Clearly seen among dem all 
 
 Is a colourless white face 
 Anxious more dan every one, 
 
 Fine type of an alien race : 
 He is waitin' for some cash 
 
 On de goods trust' tarra day, 
 Our good frien' de Syrian, 
 
 For it's policeman pay-day. 
 
 Wid a lee piece of old clot' 
 
 Ton her curly glossy hair, 
 Print frock an' old bulldog boots 
 
 Tatters all t'rough wear an' tear, 
 She is waitin', ober-bex', 
 
 Our mess-woman, mudder Mell, 
 An' 'twould grieve you' heart to hear 
 
 'Bouten wha' she's got to tell. 
 52 
 
PAY-DAY 53 
 
 Six long fortnight come an' gone 
 
 Since some constab hoi' her up, 
 An', wid all de try she try, 
 
 She can neber get a tup : 
 " Me wi' tell Inspector F 
 
 'Bout de 'ole o' i' to-day, 
 An' den me wi' really see 
 
 Ef him caan' boun' dem fe pay. 
 
 " Man dem, wid dem hungry gut, 
 
 Six long fortnight nyam me rash ; 
 Not a gill me caan' get when 
 
 Chiny dah dun fe him cash 
 Fe de plenty t'ings me trus', 
 
 Sal' fish, pork, an' flour, an' rice, 
 Onion an' ingredients, 
 
 Jes' fe mek de brukfus' nice." 
 
 See de waitin' midnight girl 
 
 Wid her saucy cock-up lips, 
 An' her strongly-built black hands 
 
 Pressed against her rounded hips : 
 She has passed de bound'ry line, 
 
 An' her womanhood is sold ; 
 Wonder not then, as you gaze, 
 
 Dat, though young, she looks so bold, 
 
 Once she roamed de country woods 
 Wid a free an' stainless soul, 
 
 But she left for Kingston's slums, 
 Gave herself up to de wul' : 
 
54 PAY-DAY 
 
 She has trod de downward course, 
 Never haltin' on de way ; 
 
 Dere's no better time for her 
 Dan a policeman pay-day. 
 
 Waits de slimber ball-pan man, 
 
 Waits de little ice-cream lad, 
 Waits our washerwoman Sue, 
 
 All deh chat how police bad ; 
 Each one sayin' police vile, 
 
 Yet deir faces all betray 
 Dat for dem dere's no rag time 
 
 Laka policeman pay-day. 
 
 Inside in de ord'ly room 
 
 Things are movin' very fine ; 
 Constab standin' in a row 
 
 Hea' de jinglin' o' de coin ; 
 Constab wid a solemn face, 
 
 Constab only full o' fun, 
 Marchin' in de ord'ly room 
 
 As dem name call one by one. 
 
 Quick march ! halt ! a sharp right tu'n, 
 
 Wid de right han' smart salute, 
 All attention poker-stiff, 
 
 An' a-standin' grave an' mute : 
 Office-clerk calls out de name, 
 
 Officer hands de amount 
 To Sa'an' Major standin' by, 
 
 Who gives it a second count. 
 
PAY-DAY 55 
 
 'Ter all de formalities, 
 
 Dis an' dat an' warra not, 
 Salute, 'tion, right about turn, 
 
 Den de precious pay is got : 
 Lee gone to de reward fund 
 
 Trough a blot' defaulter-sheet, 
 Run do'n by sub-officers, 
 
 Or caught sleepin' on dem beat ; 
 
 Den dere's somet'ing gone fe kit ; 
 
 Uniform mus' smart an' nice, 
 Else de officer won' t'ink 
 
 Dat a bobby's wutten price. 
 All dem way de money go ; 
 
 So de payin'-out fe some, 
 When de fortnight dem come roun', 
 in-a ord'ly room. 
 
 Now comes payin' up de debts 
 
 To de miscellaneous crowd 
 Wai tin' by de barrack-gate, 
 
 Chattin', chattin' very loud : 
 Payin', payin' all de time, 
 
 From apoun' do'n to a gill, 
 Whole fortnight-pay partly done, 
 
 Yet rum-money lef back still. 
 
 Strollin' t'rough de gate at night, 
 Drinkin' Finzi tell dead drunk, 
 
 Barely standin' at tattoo, 
 After 1 tumblin' in-a bunk ; 
 
 1 Afterwards. 
 
56 PAY-DAY 
 
 All de two-an'-four is done, 
 So-so trust nong ebery day 
 
 Tell de fortnight comes again 
 An' we get de little pay. 
 
THE APPLE-WOMAN'S COMPLAINT 
 
 WHILE me deh walk 'long in de street, 
 Policeman's yawnin' on his beat ; 
 An' dis de wud him chief ta'n say 
 Me mus'n' car' me apple-tray. 
 
 Ef me no wuk, me boun' fe tie! ; 
 S'pose dat will please de p61ice chief ! 
 De prison dem mus' be wan' full, 1 
 Mek dem's 'pon we like ravin' bull. 
 
 Black nigger wukin' laka cow 
 An' wipin' sweat-drops from him brow, 
 Dough him is dyin' sake o' need, 
 P'lice an' dem headman boun' fe feed. 
 
 P'lice an' dem headman gamble too, 
 Dey shuffle card an' bet fe true ; 
 Yet ef me Charlie gamble, well, 
 Dem try fe 'queeze him laka hell. 
 
 De headman fe de town police 
 Mind 2 neber know a little peace, 
 
 1 The prisons must want occupants, and that is why they are 
 down upon us like angry bulls. 
 
 The mind of the chief of the town police is never happy, 
 except, etc. 
 
 67 
 
58 THE APPLE- WOMAN'S COMPLAINT 
 
 'Cep' when him an' him heartless ban' 
 Hab sufferin' nigger in dem han'. 
 
 Ah son-son ! dough you 're bastard, yah, 
 An' dere's no one you can call pa, 
 Jes' try to ha' you' mudder's min' 
 An' Police Force you'll neber jine. 
 
 But how judge believe policemen, 
 Dem dutty mout' wid lyin' stain' ? 
 While we go batterin' along 
 Dem doin' we all sort o' wrong. 
 
 We hab fe barter-out we soul 
 To lib t'rough dis ungodly wul' ; 
 massa Jesus ! don't you see 
 How police is oppressin' we ? 
 
 Dem wan' fe see we in de street 
 Dah foller dem all 'pon dem beat ; 
 An' after, 'dout a drop o' shame, 
 Say we be'n dah solicit dem. 
 
 Ah massa Jesus ! in you' love 
 Jes' look do'n from you' t'rone above, 
 An' show me how a poo' weak gal 
 Can lib good life in dis ya wuP. 
 
KNUTSFORD PAKE RACES 
 
 BATCH o' p'licemen, lookin' fine, 
 Tramp away to de car line ; 
 No more policemen can be 
 Smart as those from Half Way Tree 
 Happy, all have happy faces, 
 For 'tis Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 No room in de tram fe stan' : 
 " Oh ! de races will be gran', 
 Wonder ef good luck we'll hab, 
 Get fe win a couple bob !" 
 Joyous, only joyous faces, 
 Goin' to de Knutsford races. 
 
 Motor buggy passin' by, 
 Sendin' dus' up to de sky ; 
 P'licemen, posted diffran' place, 
 Buy dem ticket on de race : 
 Look now for de anxious faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races ! 
 
 Big-tree boys a t'row dem dice : 
 " P'lice te-day no ha' no v'ice, 
 59 
 
60 KNUTSFOBD PAEK EACES 
 
 All like we, 1 so dem caan' mell, 
 Mek we gamble laka hell " : 
 Bowdy, rowdy-looking faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Ladies white an' brown an' black, 
 Fine as fine in gala frock, 
 Wid dem race-card in dem han' 
 Pass 'long to de dollar stan' : 
 Happy-lookin' lady faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Ge'men wid dem smart spy-glass, 
 Well equip' fe spot dem harse, 
 Dress' in Yankee-fashion clo'es, 
 Watch de flag as do'n it goes : 
 Oh ! de eager, eager faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races ! 
 
 Faces of all types an' kinds, 
 Faces showin' diffran' minds, 
 Faces from de udder seas 
 Bight from de antipodes : 
 Oh ! de many various faces 
 Seen at Knutsford Park big races 
 
 Jockeys lookin' quite dem bes', 
 In deir racin' clo'es all dress' 
 
 1 All are doing as we do. 
 
KNUTSFOBD PAEK EACES 61 
 
 (Judge de feelin's how dem proud) 
 Show de harses to de crowd : 
 Now you'll see de knowin' faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Soldier ban', formed in a ring, 
 Strike up " God save our king "; 
 Gub'nor come now by God's grace 
 To de Knutsford Park big race : 
 High faces among low faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Ladies, 'teppin' up quite cool, 
 Buy dem tickets at de pool ; 
 Dough 'tis said he's got a jerk, 
 Dere's no harse like Billie Burke : 
 Look roun' at de cock-sure faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Hey ! de flag is gone do'n, oh ! 
 Off at grips de harses go ! 
 Dainty's leadin' at a boun', 
 Stirrup-cup is gainin' ground' : 
 Strainin', eager strainin' faces 
 At de Knutsford Park big races. 
 
 Last day o' de race all's done, 
 
 An' de course is left alone ; 
 
 Everybody's goin' home, 
 
 Some more light dan when dey'd come : 
 
 Oh ! de sad, de bitter faces 
 
 After Knutsford Park big races ! 
 
THE HEAET OF A CONSTAB 
 
 'Tis hatred without an' 'tis hatred within, 
 
 An' I am so weary an' sad ; 
 For all t'rough de tempest o' terrible strife 
 
 Dere's not'in' to make poor me glad. 
 
 Oh ! where are de faces I loved in de past, 
 De Men's dat I used to hold dear ? 
 
 Oh say, have dey all turned away from me now 
 Becausen de red seam I wear ? 
 
 I foolishly wandered away from dem all 
 
 To dis life of anguish an' woe, 
 Where I mus' be hard on me own kith an' kin, 
 
 And even to frien' mus' prove foe. 
 
 Oh ! what have I gained from my too too rash act 
 
 0' joinin' a hard Constab Force, 
 Save quenchin' me thirst from a vinegar cup, 
 
 De vinegar cup o' remorse ? 
 
 I fought of a livin' o' pure honest toil, 
 To keep up dis slow-ebbin' breath ; 
 
 But no, de life surely is bendin' me do'n, 
 Is bendin' me do'n to de death. 
 62 
 
THE HEAET OF A CONSTAB 63 
 
 'Tis grievous to think dat, while toilin' on here, 
 
 My people won't love me again, 
 My people, my people, me owna black skin, 
 
 De wretched fought gives me such pain. 
 
 But I'll leave it, my people, an' come back to you, 
 
 I'll flee from de grief an' turmoil ; 
 I'll leave it, though flow'rs here should line my 
 path yet, 
 
 An' come back to you an' de soil. 
 
 For 'tis hatred without an' 'tis hatred within, 
 
 An' how can I live 'douten heart ? 
 Then oh for de country, de love o' me soul, 
 
 From which I shall nevermore part ! 
 
FE ME SAL 
 
 IN de blazin' midday heat, when I'm posted on me beat, 
 
 Who I t'inkin' of but fe me Sal? 
 She is eber in me mind, ne'er a better you will find, 
 
 She's me only lub, de best o' country gal. 
 
 When I started out fe roam from me treasured moun- 
 tain-home, 
 
 All me wanderin's were for her good ; 
 A be'n ondly fe her sake why dis job I undertake, 
 
 An' she cheer me when I'm sad an' out o' mood. 
 
 Any wuk I'm put to do, me jes' feel she's wid me too, 
 
 Biddin' me fe toil bedouten fret ; 
 An' when all de duty's done, an' me go to sleep alone, 
 
 'Tis but dreamin' o' me darlin' little pet. 
 
 When me deh 'pon station guard, dere is ondly one 
 reward, 
 
 For I get fe write her sweet lub-wuds ; 
 Den me finish up her name wid a pile o' flourish dem, 
 
 An' me seal de letter up wid jesmy buds. 
 
 When me go patrol a day, she's me one lee bit o' stay 
 
 As A deh climb up Bardowie hill ; 
 An' A somehow favour know dat, wherever I may go, 
 
 Her soul an' heart wi' eber be mine still. 
 64 
 
FE ME SAL 65 
 
 Ef me goin' to de race I'm a-t'inkin' of her face, 
 
 An' A feel her shedah at me side ; 
 Ef me eatin' me lee grub, I'm a-t'inkin' o' de lub 
 
 Dat me ha' fe her alone so free an' wide. 
 
 Udder p'liceman ha' dem gal, but dere's none like fe 
 me Sal, 
 
 Dey can neber trus' fe dem like me ; 
 And I needn't eber fear, ef I'm transferred anywhere, 
 
 For me Sally is as true as true can be. 
 
 She's de darlin' o' me life, an' shall one day be me 
 wife 
 
 Jes' as soon as eberyt'ing is ripe ; 
 An' me hab a feelin' strong dat it will not be too long 
 
 'Fo' me get fe wear an Acting Corp'ral's stripe. 
 
 She's de darlin' o' me heart, an' we'll neber neber part, 
 She's de prettiest black gal in de wul' ; 
 
 An' whereber you may go you won't find anedder so, 
 Wid more tender min' an' better sort o' soul. 
 
 So de day shall soon arrive when de two o' we shall 
 
 drive 
 
 To de parish church at Half Way Tree : 
 An' we'll stroll back t'rough de gate, me Sal a corpy's 
 
 mate, 
 An' we'll be as happy-happy as can be. 
 
THE BOBBY TO THE SNEEBING 
 LADY 
 
 You may sneer at us, madam, 
 But our work is beastly hard ; 
 
 An' while toilin thus we scarce 
 Ever get a lee reward. 
 
 Our soul's jes' like fe you, 
 
 If our work does make us rough ; 
 
 Me won't 'res' you servant-gal 
 When you've beaten her enough. 
 
 You may say she is me frien', 
 We are used to all such prate ; 
 
 Naught we meet on life's stern road 
 But de usual scorn an' hate. 
 
 Say dat you wi' 'port me, ma'am ? 
 
 I was lookin' fe dat, well, 
 Our Inspector's flinty hard, 
 
 'Twill be few days' pay or cell. 
 
 Pains an' losses of such kind 
 To we p'licemen's not'in' new ; 
 
 Still A'd really like fe hear 
 Wha' good it wi' do to you. 
 66 
 
THE BOBBY TO THE SNEEEING LADY 67 
 
 Last week, eatin' a gill bread, 
 
 Me t'row piece out on de lea ; 
 An' A ketch a 'port fe dat 
 
 Which meant five roun' mac to me. 
 
 Constab-charge, civilian-charge, 
 
 Life's a burden every way ; 
 But reward fund 1 mus' kep' up 
 
 Out o' poo' policeman pay. 
 
 Ef our lot, then, is so hard, 
 
 I mus' ever bear in mind 
 Dat to fe me own black 'kin 
 
 I mus' not be too unkind. 
 
 An' p'r'aps you too will forgive 
 Ef I've spoken rather free, 
 
 An' will let me somet'ing ask 
 Which may soften you to me : 
 
 In de middle o' de night, 
 
 When de blackness lies do'n deep, 
 Who protects your homes an' stores 
 
 While de Island is asleep ? 
 
 When de dead stars cannot shine 
 Sake o' rain an' cloud an' storm, 
 
 Who keeps watch out in de street 
 So dat not'in' comes to harm ? 
 
 1 A fund out of which rewards are given to constables for 
 meritorious work. 
 
68 THE BOBBY TO THE SNEEBING LADY 
 
 Ah ! you turn away your head ! 
 
 See ! dere's pity in your face ! 
 Don't, dear madam, bring on me 
 
 This unmerited disgrace. 
 
THE MALINGEEEE 
 
 ME mus' wukin overdue, 
 An' 'tis all because o' you ; 
 
 Me mus' wuk hard laka dis 
 'Counten o' you' wutlessness. 
 
 'Tis a dutty sort o' trick, 
 Ebery duty-time you sick ; 
 
 An' 'tis always my bad luck 
 Fe detail fe extra wuk. 
 
 Night off again me won' get, 
 Dese t'ings mek a poo' man fret, 
 
 An' feel him could not do worse 
 Dan fe go join Police Force. 
 
 Hospital a fe you bed ; 
 
 God knows wha mek you won' dead 
 Doctor no know how fe do, 
 
 Else dem wouldan p'ison you. 
 
 An' me know man dyin' out, 
 Yet de doctor dem would doubt, 
 
 Dough he's weak in ebery limb, 
 Dat a t'ing was wrong wid him. 
 69 
 
70 THE MALINGEEEE 
 
 Yet you dih-ya 'douten use, 
 Only formin' like de juice ; 
 
 An' dem caan' see, se'p me king, 
 Dat you 'pon malingering. 
 
 Ef a money you dah sabe, 
 Better min' de open grabe 1 : 
 
 T'enk God ! new rule come te-day, 
 Hospital bud gets no pay. 
 
 Me wi' really beat de eight, 
 
 But you mark me wud an' wait ! 
 
 Your time's comin' soon don't doubt 
 When you'll also be kicked out. 
 
 1 Although you are saving messing expenses, etc., yet you may 
 catch " hospital sick " (sickness) and die of it ; and then of what use 
 is your money ? 
 
A LABOUKEE'S LIFE GIVE ME 
 
 I WAS never ashamed o' de soil, 
 So you needn't remind me of it ; 
 
 I was born midst de moil an' de toil, 
 An' I'll never despise it a bit. 
 
 " Sen' me back to de cutliss an' hoe ! " 
 I don't mind, Sir, a wud dat you say, 
 
 For little, it seems, you do know 
 Of de thing dat you sneer at to-day. 
 
 If I'd followed a peasant's career, 
 I would now be a happier lad ; 
 
 You would not be abusing me here, 
 An' mekin' me sorry an' sad. 
 
 Fool ! I hated my precious birthright, 
 Scornin' what made my father a man ; 
 
 Now I grope in de pitchy dark night, 
 Hate de day when me poo' life began. 
 
 To de loved country life I'll return, 
 I don't mind at all, Sir, if you smile ; 
 
 As a peasant my livin' I'll earn, 
 An' a labourer's life is worth while. 
 71 
 
72 A LABOUBEB'S LIFE GIVE ME 
 
 As a labourer livin' content, 
 
 Wid at night a rest-place for me head, 
 Oh ! how gaily my life will be spent, 
 
 Wid de baneful ambition gone dead. 
 
 An' when, after a day's wukin' hard, 
 I go home to a fait'ful wifee, 
 
 For my toilin' derelll be its reward, 
 A peaceful heart happy an' free. 
 
 An' me children shall grow strong an' true, 
 But I'll teach dem dat life is a farce, 
 
 An' de best in dis wul' dey can do 
 Is to bear with content its sad cross. 
 
 So I'll make meself happy at home, 
 An' my life will be pleasanter yet ; 
 
 I will take de hard knocks as dey come, 
 But will conquer de worry an' fret. 
 
 Oh ! a labourer's life's my desire 
 In de hot sun an' pure season rains, 
 
 When de glow o' de dark-red bush fire 
 
 Sends a new blood a-flow'n' t'rough me veins. 
 
FEEE 
 
 SCARCE can I believe my eyes, 
 Yet before me there it lies, 
 Precious paper granting me 
 Quick release from misery. 
 
 So farewell to Half Way Tree, 
 And the plains I hate to see ! 
 Soon will I forget my ills 
 In my loved Clarendon hills. 
 
 78 
 
COMRADES FOUR 
 
 DEAR comrades, my comrades, 
 My heart is always true ; 
 
 An' ever an' ever 
 
 I shall remember you. 
 
 We all joined together, 
 Together joined we four ; 
 
 An' I have been first to 
 
 Pass t'rough the open door. 1 
 
 We four drilled together, 
 Together drilled we all ; 
 
 An' I've been the first to 
 Flee from the life o' gall. 
 
 We parted, dear comrades, 
 We parted all in tears, 
 
 An' each went his own way 
 To shoulder life's sad cares. 
 
 comrades, my comrades, 
 What is de lasting gain, 
 
 But all t'rough de tempest 
 A heart of unmixed pain ? 
 
 1 In allusion to the writer's discharge. 
 74 
 
COMEADES FOUE 75 
 
 My comrades, loved comrades, 
 
 I hear your bitter cry ; 
 But life's pain will end, boys, 
 
 Will end yet by an' by. 
 
TO W. G. G. 
 
 COME, come wid me, my tired soul, 
 'Way from de miserable wul'; 
 Come from de noise, de wild alarm, 
 To heights o' mountain peace an' calm. 
 
 Do you not hear de battle's roar, 
 De tumult ragin' on de shore ? 
 Do you not see de poisonous bait 
 Man sets for man t'rough deadly hate ? 
 
 Come flee de envy an' de strife, 
 Before dey ruin our life : 
 Come to de hills ; dey may be drear, 
 But we can shun de evil here. 
 
 De northers now are blowin' chill, 
 De fog hangs dismal on de hill, 
 An' sometimes fe long dreary days 
 De sun is wrapt up in-a haze. 
 
 De season rain is on te-day, 
 De flowers all are fadin' 'way ; 
 But dere '11 be sun upon de heights 
 After de gloomy Christmas nights. 
 76 
 
TO W. G. G. 77 
 
 Soon shall we feel de heartening charm 
 Of country life, de sunshine warm ; 
 An' see, wherever we may roam, 
 Wild flowers burstin' into bloom. 
 
 We'll hear de murmur o' de rills, 
 We'll clearly see de verdant hills 
 Wid here an' dere de peasant's field 
 So lovely in its fruitful yield. 
 
 De helpless playt'ing of a Will, 
 We'll spend our short days here ; an' still, 
 Though prisoners, feel somehow free 
 To live our lives o' misery. 
 
 Dear comrade o' de constab life, 
 I've gone an' left you in de strife ; 
 But whether skies are dark or blue, 
 Dis true true heart remembers you. 
 
SUKEE RIVER 1 
 
 I SHALL love you ever, 
 
 Dearest Sukee River : 
 Dash against my broken heart, 
 Nevermore from you I'll part, 
 
 But will stay forever, 
 
 Crystal Sukee River. 
 
 Cool my fevered brow : 
 
 Ah ! 'tis better now, 
 As I serpent-like lance t'rough 
 Your broad pool o' deepest blue ! 
 
 Dis once burnin' brow 
 
 Is more better now. 
 
 All about me dashin', 
 
 H'is'in' up an' splashin', 
 Bubbles like de turtle-berries, 
 Jostlin' wid de yerry-yerries, 
 
 All about me dashin' 
 
 H'is'in' up an' splashin'. 
 
 Oh! dis blissful swim, 
 Like a fairy dream ! 
 
 1 A river in Clarendon. Pronounce Sooty, with oo as in look. 
 78 
 
SUKEE EIVEB 79 
 
 Jumpin' off de time-worn plank, 
 Pupperlicks from bank to bank, 
 
 Dis delightful swim 
 
 Is a fairy dream. . 
 
 Kiss my naked breast 
 
 In its black skin drest : 
 Let your dainty silver bubbles 
 Ease it of its lifelong troubles, 
 
 Dis my naked breast 
 
 In its black skin drest. 
 
 Floatin', floatin' down 
 
 On my back alone, 
 Kiss me on my upturned face, 
 Clasp me in your fond embrace, 
 
 As I'm floatin' down 
 
 Happy, yet alone. 
 
 Wavelets laughin' hound me, 
 Eipples glad surround me : 
 Catchin' at dem light an' gay, 
 See dem scamper all away, 
 As dey playful hound me, 
 Or in love surround me. 
 
 T'rough de twistin' dance 
 
 Onward do I lance : 
 Onward under yonder cave 
 Comes wid me a pantin' wave, 
 
 Speedin' from de dance 
 
 Wid me as I lance. 
 
80 SUKEE RIVER 
 
 'Neat' dis shadin' hedge 
 
 Growin' by your bridge, 
 
 I am thinkin' o' you' love, 
 
 Love dat not'in' can remove, 
 
 'Neat' dis shadin' hedge 
 
 Growin' by your bridge. 
 
 Love more pure, I ken, 
 Dan de love o' men, 
 Knowin' not de fickle mind 
 Nor de hatred o' my kind ; 
 Purer far, I ken, 
 Dan de love o' men. 
 
 E'en when welcome deaf 
 Claims dis painful breat', 
 Of you I will ever think 
 Who first gave me crystal drink ; 
 E'en when welcome deaf 
 Claims dis painful breaf . 
 
 For a little while 
 I must leave your smile : 
 Kaindrops fallin' from de sky 
 Force me now to say good-bye ; 
 Jes' lee bit o' while 
 I must leave your smile. 
 
 Foamin' Sukee Eiver, 
 Dearer now dan ever, 
 I'll ne'er roam from you again 
 To a life o' so-so pain, 
 Crystal flowin' river, 
 Dearer now dan ever. 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
 A 
 
 A : I. Pronounced short. 
 
 a : it ; e.g., " a be'n ondly "= it was only. 
 
 a : intrusive word ; e.g., " a t'row "= throw. 
 
 a : by ; e.g., " a day "= by day. 
 
 a : to, as in " a school." 
 
 a : is ; e.g., Dis a fe me luck "= This is my luck, 
 
 a': at. 
 
 abouten : about. 
 
 a come : is coming. 
 
 agains': against. 
 
 a-how : how. 
 
 aldough : although. 
 
 a-limber : gently waving. 
 
 an': and. 
 
 'an : than. 
 
 anedder: another. 
 
 a no : it is not ; e.g., a no true "= it is not true. 
 
 aroun' : around. 
 
 as much wort' while : of as much value. 
 
 a whe' mumma deh ? where is mamma ? 
 
 B 
 
 ball-pan man : vendor of patties, 
 ban' : band, 
 bare-face : impudence. 
 
 81 
 
82 GLOSSAEY 
 
 barn : born. " From A barn "= since I was born ; in all 
 
 my life, 
 bat' : bath, 
 bate : rest, 
 'batin' : abating, 
 batter : toil and moil, 
 beas' : beast ; i.e., horse, mule, or donkey, 
 beat de eight : do eight hours beat-duty, 
 becausen : because, 
 bedouten: without, 
 behin' : behind. 
 
 be'n : was, were ; e.g., " be'n deh fret "= were fretting, 
 bex' : vexed, 
 big-tree. A certain big tree in Kingston is the resort of 
 
 idlers and vicious characters, 
 bluff: big. 
 bluff: insult. 
 
 boun' : bound ; bind, oblige ; are bound, 
 'bout, 'bouten : about, 
 brukfus' : breakfast, the midday meal, 
 bud : bird. 
 
 bulldog boots : rope- soled slippers, 
 bumming: cadging, begging for gifts. The u has the 
 
 value of the oo in book. 
 bungo : black African. 
 
 C 
 
 caan' : can't. A y is often slipped in after the c. Pro- 
 nounce kahn or kyahn. 
 car' : carry, 
 'causen : because, 
 'cep' : except. 
 
 chat, all deh : all are saying (how bad the policemen are), 
 chicaney: tricky. 
 
GLOSSAEY 83 
 
 Chiny : the Chinaman. 
 
 chock up : right up. 
 
 chune dem : tunes. 
 
 clot' : cloth. 
 
 comes-up : familiarity. 
 
 constab : policeman ; of or belonging to the constabulary. 
 
 Pronounce the con as in condor. 
 corpy : corporal, 
 'cos : because, 
 cotch : stand still or lie, and refuse to move. Cotch 
 
 donkey a cotching donkey. " Him always cotch " 
 
 = he always cotches. 
 couldan : could, 
 couldn' : couldn't, 
 'counten o' : on account of. 
 couple : few. 
 cram' : crammed, 
 'cratch : scratch, 
 cut : sore, 
 cutliss : cutlass, 
 
 da': that. 
 
 dah : auxiliary ; e.g., " dah dun "= is dunning ; " dah 
 
 sabe "= are saving, 
 dan: than, 
 dat: that. 
 de: the. 
 
 dead 'way : die away, 
 deaf ; death. To deaf "= exceedingly, 
 degra': degrade, 
 deh: there, 
 deh : auxiliary ; e.g., " me deh go "= I am going ; " me deh 
 
 tell "= I am telling = I tell. 
 
84 GLOSSARY 
 
 deir: their. 
 
 dem : as sign of plural, tacked closely to the preceding 
 
 word. Thus " man dem "= men ; " beas' dem " 
 
 beasts. 
 dem : them, their, they. " All dem boys, etc."=All them 
 
 (those) boys with eboe-lights (eboe-light sticks), they 
 
 are waiting there for me. 
 den: then, 
 dere: there, 
 dey : they ; " dey do "= they have ; " dey'd come "= they 
 
 had come = they came, 
 diffran': different. 
 
 dih-ya: lengthened form of dere (there). 
 dis: this, 
 dis: just. 
 
 dis ya : this here, for this. 
 doana : do not. 
 
 dog-driver : nickname for a policeman, 
 do'n : down. The vowel has a short dumb sound, and is 
 
 followed by a slight g. 
 don'-ea': don't care; inattentive, 
 don'-ca': nonchalance; indifference, 
 dough: though, 
 'dout, 'douten : without, 
 drop : atom ; scrap. 
 
 ducky hen : a small short-legged variety of hen. 
 dus': dust, 
 dutty : dirty, 
 dyin' out : very sick. 
 
 E 
 
 eber: ever. 
 
 ebery : every. 
 
 eboe-light dem : sticks made of eboe-light or torch-wood. 
 
GLOSSAEY 85 
 
 ef: if. 
 
 ef she gwin' go lef we : if she is going to (go and) leave us. 
 
 Ef you 'low, etc. : If you allow the sun to get hot, grass-lice 
 
 (small ticks) will surely "make you know" (punish 
 
 you), 
 en': end. 
 equip': equipped. 
 
 fabour say : it seems. 
 
 fait'ful: faithful. 
 
 fat : good food. 
 
 favour know : seem to know. 
 
 fe : for. 
 
 fe : to (sign of the infinitive). 
 
 fe go mek : to make. 
 
 fe late : to be late. 
 
 fe me : my ; literally, " for me." 
 
 fe you : your, yours. 
 
 fingle up : finger ; caress. 
 
 Finzi : rum. 
 
 flockin' : crowding round. 
 
 'fo': before. 
 
 form : pretend, sham. 
 
 fortnight : pay-day, which comes once a fortnight, 
 
 'fraid : afraid. 
 
 frien': friend ; in a special sense, paramour. 
 
 full: fill. 
 
 fus': first. 
 
 fyahn : fern. 
 
86 GLOSSARY 
 
 G 
 
 ge'man : gentleman ; gentleman's, 
 get fe write : get the opportunity of writing, 
 gie'm : give him ; gave him. 
 
 gill : three farthings. " Gill bread "=loaf costing three 
 farthings. 
 
 good, 'Fo we tu'n : hardly had we turned when 
 
 go'p : go up. 
 
 grass-lice : small ticks. 
 
 gro'l : growl. 
 
 groun': ground. 
 
 grudge : envy. 
 
 gwin': going (to). 
 
 gwin' go lef we : going to (go and) leave us. 
 
 H 
 
 hab : have. 
 
 hamper : panniers. 
 
 han': hand. 
 
 harse : horse. 
 
 hea': hear. 
 
 him : his : e.g., him nose=his nose. 
 
 h'is'in': hoisting. Pronounce with long i. 
 
 hoP up : hold up, i.e., neglect to pay. 
 
 hound : chase. 
 
 hu't : hurt, hurts. 
 
 i' : it. 
 
 in-a : into the ; in the ; in. 
 
 ingredients : salt, pepper, butter, &c. 
 
GLOSSABY 87 
 
 J 
 
 jack : donkey 
 jes' : just. 
 
 jesmy : jasmine. ' The buds are put in with the letter, 
 jine : join. 
 
 John-to-whit : the red-eyed greenlet. The name is imita- 
 tive of the bird's note. 
 
 Judge de feelin's : Judge the feelings just think, 
 juice : deuce. 
 
 K 
 
 ketch: catch. 
 
 kep' : be kept. 
 
 'kin : skin. 
 
 kin' : kind. Pronounce with long i. 
 
 kit: job. 
 
 know, mek you : equivalent to the slang phrase " give you 
 
 beans." 
 ko: look, 
 kue : hi ! 
 
 laka dis : like this. The lak has the value of French lac. 
 
 Lard : Lord. 
 
 larn : learn, teach. 
 
 last, fe de : for the last time. 
 
 lay : lies ; lie. 
 
 leas' : least. 
 
 ledder: ladder. 
 
 lee : little. 
 
 lef : left ; leave. 
 
88 GLOSSAEY 
 
 lib : live, 
 li'l, lilly : little, 
 limber : see a-limber. 
 'lone : alone, 
 'long : along, 
 love' : loved, 
 lub: love. 
 
 M 
 
 mac : shilling, shillings ; short for macaroni. 
 
 manchinic : Martinique bananas. 
 
 marnin', soon a : early in the morning. 
 
 me : my. It is written thus in order to remind the reader 
 
 that the y of my is almost invariably short, 
 me no know : I don't know, 
 me poor boy : I, poor fellow that I am ; poor I. 
 mek : make ; let. 
 mek we : let us. 
 mek you know : see know. 
 mell : meddle, 
 'member : remember, 
 mese'f: myself. 
 
 middle. " In de middle road "=in the middle of the road, 
 mighta : might. 
 
 min' : mind. Pronounce the i long, 
 mo' : more. 
 
 mountain-side : in the mountains, 
 mout' : mouth, 
 mudder: mother, 
 mus'n' : must not. 
 mus' smart : must be smart, 
 mussy : mercy, 
 mus' wukin' overdue : must be working overtime. 
 
GLOSSARY 89 
 
 N 
 
 'neat' : beneath. 
 
 neber tens', &c. : never trust theirs as I can mine. 
 
 neider : neither. 
 
 no fe her own han' ?=is it not her own hand ? 
 
 no lef me : do not leave me. 
 
 nong : now. The vowel sound is very dumb and short. 
 
 northers : north winds. 
 
 not'in' : nothing. Pronounce nuttiri*. 
 
 'nough, 'nuff : enough. 
 
 no wuk : don't work. 
 
 nummo : no more. 
 
 nyam : eat. A monosyllable like yam. 
 
 ob : of. 
 
 ober-bex' : over-vexed. 
 
 ole : old. 
 
 ole-time : of or belonging to former times. 
 
 'ole : whole. 
 
 ondly : only. 
 
 ord'ly : orderly. 
 
 out : out of. 
 
 owna : own. 
 
 'panish-needle grass : Spanish Needle, a fodder plant, 
 partly: nearly, 
 pas': past, 
 pass : path. 
 
90 GLOSSABY 
 
 petater: potato. 
 
 play : pretend. 
 
 play out : deceive. 
 
 plenty : many. 
 
 'pon : upon. 
 
 poo' : poor. 
 
 'port : report. 
 
 pupperlicks : head over heels ; turning somersaults. 
 
 Q 
 
 'queeze: squeeze. 
 
 rag : (such) fine. 
 
 raise : contribution. 
 
 rash : rations. 
 
 rather tryin' : trying our best. 
 
 res': rest. 
 
 'res': arrest. 
 
 ring grand, was : rang out grandly. 
 
 risky : flirty. 
 
 roun': round. 
 
 roun-a : round the. 
 
 rule : regulations ; discipline. 
 
 rum's up : rum being about. 
 
 sabe : save. 
 
 Sah: Sir. 
 
 sake o' : on account of. 
 
GLOSSARY 91 
 
 sal' : salt. 
 
 sail, in them : having a fine time of it. Pronounce sahl. 
 
 say. This is often an intrusive word of no significance : 
 
 e.g., " Jes' becausen say dem poor so "Just 
 
 because they are so poor. 
 
 Say mumma, &c.?=Does he say mamma is sinking ? 
 see'm : see him. 
 seems : it seems. 
 
 self : even. " No wut gill self "=not even worth a gill, 
 sen' : send, 
 sence : since. 
 
 se'p me king : so help me God. 
 shedah : shadow, 
 shet : shut, 
 'side : beside, 
 shouldn': shouldn't, 
 slimber : slender. 
 S.M. : Sergeant Major, 
 snappy: ill-tempered, 
 so : such. 
 
 so-so : only ; nothing but ; bare, 
 soun': sound, 
 sport : sporting character, 
 'spose : I suppose, 
 stan' : stand, 
 swea' : swear. 
 
 sweet me : give me pleasure. 
 Syrian-boy : negro working for a Syrian pedlar. 
 
 T 
 
 talk, wi' sure : my eboe-light will surely talk, i.e., teach 
 you a lesson by means of the drubbing it will give 
 you. 
 
 'tall : at all. 
 
92 GLOSSAEY 
 
 'tan' deh hide : stand there and hide. 
 
 tarra : the other. Vowel-sound as in t'other. 
 
 tatters all : all tattered. 
 
 te-day : to-day, usually accented on the first syllable. 
 
 tek: take. 
 
 tell: till. 
 
 'ten': attend. 
 
 tendin' : looking after. 
 
 t'enk : thank. 
 
 'teppin' : stepping. 
 
 'ter: after. 
 
 them : their. 
 
 ti': till. 
 
 t'ick: thick. 
 
 tief : thieve, steal. 
 
 t'ing: thing. 
 
 t'ink : think. 
 
 'tion': attention (standing to). 
 
 togeder : together. 
 
 told good-night : wished good-night. 
 
 to'n : town. The vowel is very dumb. 
 
 'top: stop. 
 
 'top sleep : stop sleeping. 
 
 fought : thought. 
 
 'traight : straight. 
 
 trick : tricky. 
 
 'trong : strong. 
 
 t'rough : through. 
 
 t'row: throw. 
 
 trus' : trust ; give on trust ; take on trust. 
 
 try, wid all de etc. : try as hard as she may. 
 
 tu'n : turn. Pronounce tu'nirf tunnin. 
 
 tup : twopence of the old Jamaica coinage ; three halfpence 
 
 of the new. 
 two-an'-four : the ordinary policeman's daily pay. 
 
GLOSSAKY 93 
 
 U 
 
 udder : other, other's. 
 
 unno : you. The u sounds between o and u, and the final 
 
 o is more like oo, but very short, 
 use': used, 
 ushal : usual (with the middle syllable unpronounced). 
 
 Except for this omission, the pronunciation is 
 
 identical. 
 
 V 
 
 v'ice : voice. " Ha' no v'ice "=can't say anything. 
 
 W 
 
 wan' : want. The to after want is generally omitted. Thus 
 " wan' go "=want to go ; " want see "=want to see. 
 
 warra : what. The value of the a is unchanged. 
 
 way: away. 
 
 we: us; our. 
 
 weader : weather. 
 
 wha': what. " Wha' de doctor t'ink?"=What does the 
 doctor think? "Wha' de use ?"= What is the 
 use ? Pronounce the a precisely as in what. 
 
 wha' it : what. 
 
 whe': where. 
 
 whe': who, whom. The e is short, as in wet. 
 
 wi': will; will be. 
 
 wi': with. 
 
 wid : with. 
 
 won': won't. 
 
94 GLOSSARY 
 
 wort' while, wut while : worth while, meaning profitable, 
 
 serviceable, useful. 
 
 wouldan : would, not to be confused with the following, 
 wouldn' : would not. 
 wud : word, 
 wuk : work, 
 wul': world. 
 
 wut, no : not worth ; is no use. 
 
 wutless, wutlessness : worthlessness, badness, rascality, 
 wutten price : worth his price, 
 wut while : worth while, i.e., of any use and profit. 
 
 ya: here. 
 
 yah : do you hear ? often thrown in without any particular 
 
 meaning. 
 
 yerry-yerries : minnows, 
 yet : hereafter ; in time to come, 
 you': your. The ou pronounced as in you. 
 you sick : you are sick. 
 
 PBINTED BY WATTS AND CO., JOHNSON'S COUBT, FLEET STREET, E.G. 
 
I 
 
YCI 12199